Record Wewak Raid

Northern Advocate, 26 August 1943, Page 3

Record Wewak Raid

SYDNEL, This Day. More than ICO Allied planes yesterdaymade a record raid on Wewak, key Japanese base on the North New Guinea coast. Liberators, escorted by Lightning fighters, dropped 112 tons of bombs in a swift attack on the town and aerodrome areas. General MacArthur’s communique reports that much damage resulted and numerous fires and explosions were observed. The 20 Zeros which were in the air showed reluctance to engage, but one was shot down. In actions during the past week the Japanese have lost more than 300 planes around Wewak. Forced back by Allied pressure, the Japanese at Salamaua continue to withdraw. , .. No fresh information on the land situation in this area is given in today’s communique. Allied aircraft in the Solomons continue to keep close watch on enemy ship movements. Just before midnight one of our reconnaissance planes, about 40 miles west of Euka, dropped bombs on an enemy convoy of 10 vessels headed north

Two daylight attempts were made by enemy fighters to attack Vella Lavella, Central Solomons, on Monday. Our fighters shot down nine of the enemy planes, including seven Zeros, and damaged two others. War correspondents in the Solomons reDort that American troops who landed on Vella Lavella 10 days ago have now cleared the southern area of the island of Japanese. On New Georgia, Japanese positions at Bairoko Harbour are now within range of Allied artillery.